Portland, Ore. -- On Friday, December 18, 2015 from 2-3 pm at the Earl Boyles Elementary School (10822 SE Bush St., Portland, OR) in the David Douglas School District, FamilyCare Health President & CEO Jeff Heatherington will present a $100,000 donation to Schoolhouse Supplies to assist them in expanding the number of school districts eligible to use their services and provide classroom sets of basic musical instruments. The gift is intended to help inspire children to love music, support their daily learning and give them a basis for continuing music education.
The donation will be presented at an All School Holiday Assembly. To celebrate the gift, Oregon Symphony resident conductor Paul Kim will lead a performance by all third-fifth graders, playing on recorders purchased with these new funds. Their performance will include songs the kids are learning for their upcoming April 28, 2016 interactive Carnegie Hall-Weill Institute "Link Up" concert with the Oregon Symphony entitled The Orchestra Sings, part of the Oregon Symphony and David Douglas Schools' five-year Studio to School Initiative. The performance will include excerpts from the "Ode to Joy," "Simple Gifts," the "New World Symphony," as well as three other holiday songs.
"This may seem like an unusual gift for a health care company, but we know that music education and participation in music aids in the healthy development of both the intellectual and emotional minds of children that carries on into their adult lives," says FamilyCare Health President & CEO Jeff Heatherington. "This is preventative medicine at a very fundamental level." Heatherington also serves on the Oregon Symphony Board.
"We are so grateful to FamilyCare for their commitment to local classrooms," said Alice Forbes, Executive Director of Schoolhouse Supplies. "This generous gift is part of their ongoing support of Schoolhouse Supplies, putting critical learning materials in the hands of students across the entire Metro area. We recognize music education as a fundamental part of general educational development and appreciate being able to provide this support to so many children."
Partners in this project include FamilyCare Health, Schoolhouse Supplies, Oregon Symphony and the Carnegie Hall Weill Institute, David Douglas School District, the Oregon Community Foundation, and the Regional Arts and Culture Council.
About FamilyCare Health
For 30 + years, FamilyCare Health has been providing patient-centered healthcare to Oregonians. With over 130,000 members, FamilyCare Health is a Medicare and Medicaid managed care organization providing health plan services in Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Marion counties. FamilyCare was the first health plan in Oregon to integrate models of physical and mental health. It was the first Coordinated Care Organization in the tri?county area certified by the Oregon Health Authority. More information at http://www.familycareinc.org/
Donation inspires multi-organizational collaboration
December 15, 2015
